MORLEY, John

1942 - ?

John E. Morley was born at 19 Aviemore Way, Beckenham, Kent on 12 September 1942, son of William John Morley (27 November 1900-3 March 1970), a plumber on Southern railways, and his wife Annie Daisy née Miller (21 July 1903-16 April 1991), who married at Bromley, Kent in 1926. A lifelong interest in botany began during Morley's childhood spent partly on an estate in Kent, where his grandfather was a gardener. John studied at Beckenham School of Art and at Ravensbourne School of Art 1957-1962 followed by the Royal Academy Schools until 1966 and in 1974 gained a further scholarship from the Arts Council. He married at Chanctonbury, Sussex in 1972, fellow artist Diana Howard, and they had one daughter. A visiting lecturer at Epsom School of Art also assistant Master at Westminster School; Suffolk College and at Royal Academy Schools. A painter who was a member and exhibitor at Royal Society of British Artists and New English Art Club, also exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition also showing at Paris Salon and elsewhere with regular solo shows at Piccadilly Gallery from 1977. He sometimes signs his work 'J.M.' and lived at North Green, Stoven, near Halesworth, Suffolk where, in the grounds of his Suffolk cottage has, for over thirty years, cultivated one of the most extraordinary gardens. Through his deep knowledge of his subject he has lovingly seeded, planted, labelled and grown an astounding variety of plants and many rare species including auriculas, fritillaries and over three hundred varieties of snowdrops. Like his friends, the late Cedric Morris and John Nash these have become a natural subject matter for his paintings. In 1990 elected a Brother of the Art Workers Guild and in 1996 a member of the Society of Wood Engravers. His works are held by Museum of Modern Art, Wales; Arts Council of Great Britain; Ashmolean Museum; Glasgow City Art Gallery; National Trust; Victoria & Albert Museum; British Museum and several private collectors. www.johnmorley.info. He signed his works 'John Morley'.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from North Green, Stoven, Beccles, Suffolk
1975 387 The Orangery, Heveningham Hall
1976 141 Toadstools
1977 234 Silver Jug
282 Rose ‘Elizabeth of Glamis’
1980 403 Basket of Redcurrants
444 Auriculas: White Edged Fancy
2007 380 Green-Edged Auricula oil
2008 308 Still Life, Pomegranates oil
443 Still Life, Cakes – oil
2010 462 Still Life, Peas – oil
2011 465 Still Life Flowers – oil

---

Works by This Artist